Treatment for Medullary Thyroid Cancer

Medullary thyroid cancer is a rare form of thyroid cancer. On November 29, 2012 the FDA announced the approval of an oral drug called cabozantinib (brand name Cometriq) for the treatment of patients with medullary thyroid cancer where the cancer has spread to other sites in the body. It is a tyrosine kinase inhibitor blocking multiple pathways important for medullary thyroid cancer cells.

In one study with 330 patients, those who received cabozantinib lived for 11 months without their cancer worsening compared to four months for patients who received a placebo. There are some significant side effects patients need to be monitored for as listed in the actual prescribing information.

If you have any questions about this or any other treatment, please talk with your physician.